Midwest Center for Movement Adult Programs

Aikido

“Practice for Perfection, and you will always be Effective”

Unlike many martial arts schools that only deal with defending against someone from their own style or with no training, MCFM Aikido students are trained to immediately neutralize attacks from trained individuals. You will learn to defend yourself against striking arts & kicking arts, wrestlers and grapplers, and untrained violent attacks. This is possible because of the experience of our senior students and instructors. Our teaching staff has black belt ranking in 6 other martial arts besides Aikido, and experience in many others martial arts before settling on and bringing their knowledge to MCFM Aikido.

What is Aikido?

Aikido is a Japanese Martial Art developed by Morihei Ueshiba

It can be translated as “the path of harmonizing energy”.

On a physical level it involves comprehensive use of effective joint locks, strikes, throws, standing grappling techniques, nerve strikes, and manipulations. It also involves comprehensive use of Japanese sword, knife and walking stick techniques.

Unlike classical Japanese martial arts that stress victory at all costs on the battlefield, Aikido is a means of achieving a non-injurious resolution to conflict and to promote harmonious interaction between members of society.

Movement in Aikido should be natural and not forced. The application of aikido technique requires very little strength or athletic ability, therefore, aikido can be utilized by practically everyone! Most importantly, properly executed aikido techniques will not result in severe injury to an attacker.

Aikido students can find exactly what they are looking for, whether it is applicable self-defense technique, improving physical fitness, peace of mind, or spiritual enlightenment!

The Midwest Center for Movement Aikido Program is affiliated with the Mid-America Aikido Federation. Students receive internationally recognized rank, and may visit any MAAF school worldwide free of charge.

BATTO & Swordsmanship Our Batto Do and swordsmanship classes are part of our Aikido program. Aikido has a rich tradition of using the weapons of the samurai, and at MCFM that tradition continues. MCFM is a member dojo of The United State Federation of Batto Do under the Zen Nihon Batto Do Renmei.

Batto Do is the art of drawing and cutting with a blade in one continuous motion. And proper sword etiquette.

Tameshigiri is the art of cutting at target with a sword. The targets usually consist of tatami (heavy straw mats) that are bound and soaked in water. These more or less emulate the consistency of flesh. More advanced practitioners will have the same targets with bamboo in the middle (emulating large bones) or multiple targets.

All sword training begins with the use of a bokken (wooden sword). From there a student will transition to using an Iaito (training blade) and then finally will work with a Shinken (live blade).

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The MCFM BJJ program is an official affiliate of 8th Degree Red/Black Belt, Rigan Machado and you will learn from the ONLY two Jiu-Jitsu blackbelts in Western Wisconsin, Michael Ellefson and Tim Mahedy!

What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu or BJJ is a method of self-defense and sport system that focuses on grappling and especially ground-fighting.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu was formed from Judo’s ground fighting fundamentals that were taught by a number of individuals in post-feudal Japan.

Carlos and Hélio Gracie were taught these techniques, evolved them and passed their knowledge on to their extended family as well as other instructors.

BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using proper technique and leverage.

Training for Law Enforcement and Businesses

P.A.C.T. (For Law Enforcement Groups Only)

Police Aikido Control Tactics training was created by Bill Sosa (Founder, International Aikido Association) in response to many of his students (who were Dallas/Ft. Worth Police, US Marshals, and FBI agents) that thought their standard defensive tactics training was lacking. The curriculum was designed with the aid of the Dallas/Ft.Worth Police Dept., the US Marshals, and FBI.P.A.C.T. training introduces applied Aikido technique strictly for the needs of the law enforcement professional. P.A.C.T. training sessions teach techniques that allow for restraining, arresting, and controlling an individual regardless of size in a expeditious non-violent manner. The secondary focus of P.A.C.T. training is weapon retention and weapon defense techniques.In a litigation-happy society, the ability to handle a situation in a “controlled manner” is of increasing interest to law enforcement professionals everywhere.What makes this program most effective and useful for the law enforcement community is; unlike most programs that are designed to teach completely new skillsets while disregarding previous training, P.A.C.T. builds on existing skills and augments previous techniques and tactics, making them more effective for a larger scope of scenarios and immediately useful to the officer.Michael Ellefson was certified as a P.A.C.T. instructor by Bill Sosa. He has lead P.A.C.T. training for various law enforcement groups, corrections officers, and private security firms.Mr. Ellefson is joined by technical consultant and assistant Leo Lalley who served as United States Postal Inspector for 31 years. During his time with the Postal Inspection Service, Mr. Lalley was a Team Leader, a PIO, a Defensive Tactics, Officer Survival, and Firearms Instructor.As of 2011, MCFM programs are officially sanctioned for Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) credits for Minnesota law enforcement personnel

Self-Defense Seminars

Midwest Center for Movement offers Self-Defense & Self-Protection classes taught on a session basis for people of all ages interested in improving their skills in avoiding and surviving and altercation with an attacker.Self-defense (Self`-de*fense”) (v), n.

1. The act of defending one’s own person, property, or reputation.

2. In self-defense (Law), in protection of self, — it being permitted in law to a party on whom a grave wrong is attempted to resist the wrong, even at the peril of the life of the assailiant. Wharton.

Self-Defense and Self-Protection classes are designed to help all people reduce the likelihood of an assault upon their person. Our Self-Defense & Self-Protection seminars are extremely popular with individuals, families, community groups and large businesses. We offer these seminars at our facility or yours. In these seminars we teach a “safe escape” mindset. The idea is to not let a situation reach the point of physical altercation should be a self-defense minded person’s first point of business. Once a situation reaches the physical stage, you will learn simple, effective ways to neutralize the attacker and get you (and your family) home safe. Our seminars often benefit local organizations such as TurningPoint for Victims of Domestic Abuse and other worthy groups. If you would like to be notified of when our next seminar is: Join our Mailing List or call 651-308-8673. Space is usually limited to 40.